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Date May 2018 Marks available 2 Reference code 18M.2.SL.TZ2.2
Level Standard level Paper Paper 2 Time zone 2
Command term Explain Question number 2 Adapted from N/A

Question

An ideal monatomic gas is kept in a container of volume 2.1 × 10–4 m3, temperature 310 K and pressure 5.3 × 105 Pa.

The volume of the gas in (a) is increased to 6.8 × 10–4 m3 at constant temperature.

State what is meant by an ideal gas.

[1]
a.i.

Calculate the number of atoms in the gas.

[1]
a.ii.

Calculate, in J, the internal energy of the gas.

[2]
a.iii.

Calculate, in Pa, the new pressure of the gas.

[1]
b.i.

Explain, in terms of molecular motion, this change in pressure.

[2]
b.ii.

Markscheme

a gas in which there are no intermolecular forces

OR

a gas that obeys the ideal gas law/all gas laws at all pressures, volumes and temperatures

OR

molecules have zero PE/only KE

 

Accept atoms/particles.

[1 mark]

a.i.

N« p V k T = 5.3 × 10 5 × 2.1 × 10 4 1.38 × 10 23 × 310 » 2.6 × 1022

[1 mark]

a.ii.

«For one atom U 3 2 kT»  3 2  × 1.38 × 10–23 × 310 / 6.4 × 10–21 «J»

U = «2.6 × 1022 ×  3 2  × 1.38 × 10–23 × 310» 170 «J»

 

 Allow ECF from (a)(ii)

Award [2] for a bald correct answer

Allow use of U = 3 2 pV

[2 marks]

a.iii.

p2«5.3 × 105 ×  2.1 × 10 4 6.8 × 10 4 » 1.6 × 105 «Pa»

[1 mark]

b.i.

«volume has increased and» average velocity/KE remains unchanged

«so» molecules collide with the walls less frequently/longer time between collisions with the walls

«hence» rate of change of momentum at wall has decreased

«and so pressure has decreased»

 

The idea of average must be included

Decrease in number of collisions is not sufficient for MP2. Time must be included.

Accept atoms/particles.

[2 marks]

b.ii.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.i.
[N/A]
a.ii.
[N/A]
a.iii.
[N/A]
b.i.
[N/A]
b.ii.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 3: Thermal physics » 3.2 – Modelling a gas
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